System, electronic apparatus, and recording medium

ABSTRACT

There is provided a system including a housing configured to be grasped by a hand, a determination unit configured to determine whether an object point is present in a vicinity of an electronic apparatus, a recognition unit configured to recognize a relative relationship between the object point and a position of the electronic apparatus when the determination unit has determined that the object point is present in the vicinity, and a stimulation control unit configured to perform control in a manner that a stimulus is provided to a hand in accordance with the recognized relative relationship.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent ApplicationNo. JP 2012-103447 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Apr. 27, 2012,the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a system, an electronic apparatus, anda recording medium.

In recent years, navigation technology has been known that has displayfor navigating a user to a destination in a mobile terminal such as amobile phone.

For example, a navigation device for an exhibition described in JP2011-75292A displays navigation information that includes a travellingdirection toward a navigation position, based on the current positioninformation and the direction information of the navigation device andthe navigation position information read out from a medium such as apamphlet.

A position display system described in JP 2002-286493A derives, as aroute leading to a destination, an optimal route in terms of a user'sfate, which is determined as a lucky route in directionology, based onthe position information of a portable terminal and the positioninformation of the destination. A portable terminal according to thepresent system displays the derived optimal route in terms with a user'sfate on a display in the form of a letter or a diagram.

A mobile terminal described in JP 2003-194571A calculates a relativedirection of a destination according to the direction of the terminal,which is displayed using a display medium.

A route navigation device described in JP 2007-51872A selects a route toa destination in accordance with a user's health condition, and displaysan image indicating the selected route to guide the user.

SUMMARY

However, each of the technologies described above navigates a user to agiven destination designated by the user with a display device. Nothingis taken into account regarding navigation to a destination that is notdesignated by a user.

For example, when a famous spot or a recommendable spot that a user hasnot noticed is in the vicinity of the user, it is not possible that thespot is designated as a destination since the user has not noticed thespot. Accordingly, if the user is automatically navigated to such aspot, utility of the navigation technology is further improved.

Therefore, the present disclosure proposes a system, an electronicapparatus, and a recording medium that are novel and improved, and arecapable of having a user notice an object point present in the vicinityof the user.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provideda system including a housing configured to be grasped by a hand, adetermination unit configured to determine whether an object point ispresent in a vicinity of an electronic apparatus, a recognition unitconfigured to recognize a relative relationship between the object pointand a position of the electronic apparatus when the determination unithas determined that the object point is present in the vicinity, and astimulation control unit configured to perform control in a manner thata stimulus is provided to a hand in accordance with the recognizedrelative relationship.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, there isprovided an electronic apparatus including a housing configured to begrasped by a hand, a reception unit configured to determine whether anobject point is present in a vicinity of the electronic apparatus, andconfigured to receive, from a server that recognizes a relativerelationship between the object point and a position of the electronicapparatus, the relative relationship recognized by the server whendetermined that the object point is present in the vicinity, and astimulation control unit configured to perform control in a manner thata stimulus is provided to a hand in accordance with the relativerelationship received by the reception unit.

According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provideda recording medium having a program recorded thereon, the programcausing a computer to execute the processes of determining whether anobject point is present in a vicinity of an electronic apparatusincluding a housing that is grasped by a hand, receiving, from a serverthat recognizes a relative relationship between the object point and aposition of the electronic apparatus, the relative relationshiprecognized by the server when determined that the object point ispresent in the vicinity, and performing control in accordance with thereceived relative relationship in a manner that a stimulus is providedto a hand.

According to the embodiments of the present disclosure described above,it is possible to have a user notice an object point that is present inthe vicinity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram for describing an overview of an object recognitionsystem according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digitalcamera according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a serveraccording to the present embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between stimulusintensity and a displacement;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a stimulus interval according topriority of an object;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a stimulusaccording to the present embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating another specific example of a stimulus;

FIG. 8 is a diagram for describing a relative relationship between acurrent position of a digital camera and a position of an object; and

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of the objectrecognition system according to the present embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S)

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will bedescribed in detail with reference to the appended drawings. Note that,in this specification and the appended drawings, structural elementsthat have substantially the same function and structure are denoted withthe same reference numerals, and repeated explanation of thesestructural elements is omitted.

Embodiments will be described in the following order.

1. Overview of Object Recognition System According to Embodiment ofPresent Disclosure

2. Basic Configurations

2-1. Configuration of Digital Camera

2-2. Configuration of Server

3. Operation Process

4. Conclusion

1. OVERVIEW OF OBJECT RECOGNITION SYSTEM ACCORDING TO EMBODIMENT OFPRESENT DISCLOSURE

First, an overview of an object recognition system according to anembodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference toFIG. 1. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the object recognition systemaccording to the embodiment of the present disclosure includes a digitalcamera 1 and a server 3. The digital camera 1 includes a wirelesscommunication function, and can be connected to the server 3 on anetwork 4 via a base station 5.

When a user captures a subject in the vicinity of the user, and a famousspot or a notable spot is present in the vicinity, it is usuallydifficult for the user to face a camera in the direction in which thefamous spot is present or notice the spot, unless the user has known thepresence.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, an object recognition system isproposed that can have a user notice, by providing a stimulus to a handof the user, the presence of an object such as a famous spot and anotable spot that the user has not noticed.

More specifically, the digital camera 1 according to the presentembodiment transmits, to the server 3, the current position informationand the direction information (for example, information of the imagecapturing direction), and the server 3 determines, based on the currentposition information of the digital camera 1, whether an object ispresent in the vicinity of the digital camera 1.

Next, when it is determined that an object is present in the vicinity,the server 3 recognizes a relative relationship between the digitalcamera 1 and the object based on the direction information of thedigital camera 1, and transmits the recognized relative relationship tothe digital camera 1.

The digital camera 1 performs a process for having the user notice(recognize) the direction in which the object is present, based on therelative relationship received from the server 3.

Here, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a plurality of stimulation units 25A and25B are disposed at parts of the digital camera 1 according to thepresent embodiment that are grasped by a user. The digital camera 1controls the stimulation unit 25A disposed in the direction in which anobject is present to provide a stimulus to a hand of the user, based onthe relative relationship received from the server 3.

In this way, a stimulus provided to one of the hands that grasps thedigital camera 1 allows the user to notice the presence of an object.The object recognition system according to the present embodiment canalso guide a user's body such that the user naturally faces the digitalcamera 1 in response to the stimulus in the direction of the stimulus.

The object recognition system according to the present embodiment willbe described in detail below. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the digitalcamera 1 is shown as an example of an electronic apparatus in thepresent embodiment, but an electronic apparatus according to the presentembodiment is not limited thereto. For example, the apparatus mayinclude a video camera, a smartphone including a camera, personaldigital assistants (PDA), a personal computer (PC), a mobile phone, aportable music player, a portable image processing device, or a portablegame device.

The electronic apparatus according to the present embodiment is notlimited to a device equipped with a camera, and is also applicable to adevice capable of acquiring the position information and the directioninformation of the device such as a device including, for example, aglobal positioning system (GPS) or a direction sensor. Additionally, theelectronic apparatus according to the present embodiment is not limitedto a device including a GPS or a direction sensor, and may also be adevice into which the current position information or the directioninformation of the device can be manually input.

Further, the electronic apparatus according to the present embodimentmay include a tactile device that has various shapes such as a sphere oran oval, and is capable of generating a stimulus.

2. BASIC CONFIGURATIONS [2-1. Configuration of Digital Camera]

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the digitalcamera 1 according to the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 2,the digital camera 1 includes a CPU 10, ROM 11, RAM 12, a directionsensor 13, a GPS positioning unit 14, a camera module 15, an operationinput unit 16, captured image memory 19, a display control unit 20, adisplay unit 21, a network interface (I/F) 22, a stimulation controlunit 24, and the stimulation units 25A and 25B. Each configuration willbe described below.

The direction sensor 13 detects a direction of an optical axis of lensoptical system of the camera module 15, that is, an image capturingdirection, and outputs information (direction information) regarding thedetected image capturing direction. The digital camera 1 including thecamera module 15 is shown herein as an example of an electronicapparatus, but, as described above, an electronic apparatus according tothe present embodiment is not limited to a device equipped with acamera. When an electronic apparatus that does not include a camera isused, the direction sensor 13 may output, as the direction information,the direction in which a particular part of the electronic apparatusfaces.

The GPS positioning unit 14 receives a radio wave from a GPS satellite,detects the position at which the digital camera 1 is present, andoutputs the detected position information. Additionally, the GPSpositioning unit 14 is an example of a position information acquisitionunit that detects the current position of the digital camera 1 based onan externally acquired signal. In addition, the position informationacquisition unit may detect the position through WiFi, transmission toand reception from a mobile phone, a PHS, a smartphone, or the like, ornear field communication, for example.

The camera module 15 includes an image sensor, an imaging optical systemincluding an imaging lens, and a captured image signal processing unit,and outputs data of a captured image in the form of a digital signal.Additionally, the image sensor may be realized, for example, as a chargecoupled device (CCD) imager or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor(CMOS) imager.

The operation input unit 16 is a shutter button, a zoom dial, a group ofphysical keys such as various types of switches, a touch panel obtainedby being laminated on the display unit 21, or the like for detectingvarious types of operations performed by a user. The CPU 10 executes aprocess in response to a user operation input from the operation inputunit 16 in accordance with a program stored in the ROM 11.

For example, flash memory such as card type memory is used for thecaptured image memory 19. The captured image memory 19 may also be arecording medium such as a digital versatile disc (DVD). Further, thecaptured image memory 19 does not have to be such a removable memorymedium, and may also be a hard disc device.

The captured image memory 19 may also store, as captured images, imagesof a subject successively output from the camera module 15 in responseto a timing at which a shutter button is operated.

The display control unit 20 performs display control on display contentsof a display screen that is displayed on the display unit 21. Thedisplay contents of the display unit 21 includes, for example, an image(live view) of a subject output from the camera module 15 and a capturedimage stored in the captured image memory 19, in addition to a menuscreen, various types of operation screens, or the like.

The display unit 21 is a display device that is realized, for example,as a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light-emitting diode(OLED), or the like.

The network I/F 22 is a communication module for transmitting data toand receiving data from an external device. For example, the network I/F22 according to the present embodiment transmits, to the server 3 on thenetwork, the current position information of the digital camera 1measured by the GPS positioning unit 14 and the direction informationoutput from the direction sensor 13. The network I/F 22 according to thepresent embodiment also receives, from the server 3, a recognitionresult of a relative relationship between the position of the digitalcamera 1 and the position of an object.

The stimulation control unit 24 controls the stimulation units 25A and25B to have a user recognize the direction in which the object ispresent, based on the relative relationship between the position of thedigital camera 1 and the position of the object, which is received fromthe server 3 via the network I/F 22. Specifically, the stimulationcontrol unit 24 provides a stimulus (tactile stimulus, for example) tothe user using the stimulation unit 25A or 25B disposed in the directionin which the object is present.

The stimulation control unit 24 may control stimulus intensity and/or astimulus interval in accordance with a displacement between thedirection in which the object is present and the image capturingdirection of the digital camera 1. The digital camera 1 may control thestimulus intensity and/or the stimulus interval in accordance with thepriority of the object.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the stimulation control unit 24may perform control such that the stimulus intensity increases withincrease in the displacement. In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, thestimulus intensity in accordance with the displacement is controlled tobe equal to or lower than a given value, taking an effect or the like onthe body into consideration.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the stimulation control unit 24 may performcontrol such that stimuli (stimulation 1) are provided at shorterintervals as the priority of the object is higher, and stimuli(stimulation 2) are provided at longer intervals as the priority islower. For example, when the priority of an object that is determined asan object present in the vicinity of the digital camera 1 by adetermination unit 33 of the server 3 described below is low (the objectis not such a famous spot, or the like), stimuli are provided at longerintervals than the intervals of the stimulation 1, as illustrated in thestimulation 2 of FIG. 4.

The stimulation control unit 24 may also perform control such that thestimulation is stopped when the orientation of the digital camera 1 ischanged so the relative relationship is also changed, and thedisplacement between the direction in which the object is present andthe image capturing direction of the digital camera 1 falls within apredetermined range.

The stimulation control unit 24 may perform control such that thestimulation is stopped when the orientation of the digital camera 1 ischanged so the relative relationship is also changed, and the objectenters the angle of view of the digital camera 1.

The stimulation units 25A and 25B are a plurality of sources of stimulithat provide stimuli to a hand (including a wrist and an arm) of theuser that grasps the digital camera 1 in accordance with controlperformed by the stimulation control unit 24. It will be described belowin what form the stimulation units 25A and 25B are specificallyrealized.

The CPU 10 executes the function of each configuration of the digitalcamera 1 described above by using a program or the like stored in theROM 11.

In addition to a program for performing an image capturing function, theROM 11 stores a program or the like for performing a stimulation controlprocess to have a user recognize the direction of an object based on therelative relationship received from the server 3. The CPU 10 executesthe programs stored in the ROM 11 using the RAM 12 as a work area.

The configuration of the digital camera 1 according to the firstembodiment has been described in detail above. Next, a specific way ofrealizing the above-described stimulation units 25A and 25B will bedescribed.

(Specific Example of Source of Stimuli)

A stimulus generated by each of the stimulation units 25A and 25Baccording to the present embodiment may include, for example, avibration, an electrical stimulation, pressure, heat, control over thecoefficient of friction of the housing, and control over the center ofgravity of the housing. It will be specifically described below how eachstimulus is realized.

Vibration

For example, an eccentric motor may be used as a way of applying astimulus through a vibration. As illustrated in FIG. 5, a plurality ofeccentric motors 25-1A and 25-1B are provided at both ends of a digitalcamera 1-1 that are grasped by the hands of a user. The stimulationcontrol unit 24 operates the eccentric motor disposed in the directionin which an object is present.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the digital camera 1-1 has an outer cover(housing) 2 having a shape that a part at each of the both ends that aregrasped by a user protrudes. The eccentric motors 25-1A and 25-1B aredisposed inside the protrusions of the outer cover 2, respectively. Acushioning material (not shown) may be provided on a side opposing tothe outer cover 2 of each of the eccentric motors 25-1A and 25-1B sothat it is possible to inform the user more accurately whether the rightof the digital camera 1-1 is vibrating or the left of the digital camera1-1 is vibrating.

Electrical Stimulus

For example, an electrode that applies an electric current through abody may be used as a way of applying a stimulus through an electricalstimulus. As illustrated in FIG. 5, a plurality of electrodes 25-2A to25-2D are provided at both ends (both sides, and front and backsurfaces) of a digital camera 1-2 that are grasped by the hands of auser. The stimulation control unit 24 performs control such thatelectric currents are applied from the electrodes disposed in thedirection in which an object is present. An electric current applied tothe hands of the user from each of electrodes 25-2 according to thepresent embodiment may be a pulse signal, which is apt to have an effecton the nervous system.

Pressure

For example, the outer cover (housing) 2 of a digital camera 1-3 may bepressed from the inside so that the outer cover protrudes as a way ofapplying a stimulus through pressure. As illustrated in FIG. 6, forexample, a plurality of pressing members 25-3A and 25-3B are operablyprovided at both longitudinal ends of the digital camera 1-3 that aregrasped by a user. Here, at least a part of the both ends of the outercover 2 of the digital camera 1-3 is formed of an elastic member andpressed from the inside by the pressing members 25-3A and 25-3B, therebybeing deformable.

The stimulation control unit 24 performs operation control on thepressing member 25-3B disposed in the direction in which an object ispresent such that a part (protruding region 26) of the outer cover 2formed of an elastic member is pressed from the inside as illustrated inthe bottom of FIG. 6. One of the hands of the user that grasp both endsof the digital camera 1-3 is hereby pressed, and the user can recognizethe direction in which an object is present.

The way of applying a stimulus through pressure is not limited to theabove-described way of pressing. For example, when one end of a lacelike member such as a strap is attached to the digital camera 1 in aretractable way, and the other end is rolled around a wrist of a userwho grasps the digital camera 1, the digital camera 1 performs controlfor retracting the lace like member in accordance with the direction inwhich an object is present.

For example, when a user grasps the digital camera and captures an imagewith the lace like member rolled around a wrist, the lace like member isretracted as described above so that the wrist is retracted in thedirection in which the object is present. The user hereby faces thedigital camera 1 naturally in the direction in which the object ispresent and can notice the object. The lace like member according to thepresent embodiment may also be attached to both ends of the digitalcamera 1 and rolled around the respective wrists of a user. The digitalcamera 1 according to the present embodiment performs control for takingup the lace like member to retract the lace like member toward thedigital camera 1.

Control Over Coefficient of Friction of Housing

For example, a coefficient of friction of the outer cover (housing) ofthe digital camera 1 may be controlled through the Squeeze effect usingultrasound as a way of applying a stimulus through control over acoefficient of friction. More specifically, micro electro mechanicalsystems (MEMS) devices including the function of controlling acoefficient of friction with ultrasound are provided at bothlongitudinal ends of the digital camera 1 that are grasped by a user.

The stimulation control unit 24 may control the MEMS device disposed inthe direction in which an object is present to reduce a coefficient offriction in a part of the digital camera 1 that is grasped by a user andto make the part slippery. For example, when both ends of the digitalcamera 1 are grasped by the hands, and an image is captured, once oneend of the digital camera 1 is slippery, the user prepares to carefullygrip the slippery part so that the body is naturally inclined in thedirection in which an object is present, and the user can notice theobject.

Control over Center of Gravity of Housing

For example, the center of gravity may be controlled using thegyroscopic moment as a way of applying a stimulus through control overthe center of gravity.

The stimulation control unit 24 controls a gyroscope mounted on thedigital camera 1 so as to change the center of gravity of the digitalcamera 1 in the direction in which an object is present. For example,when a user grasps the digital camera 1 with his/her hand and capturesan image, once the center of gravity of the digital camera 1 is changed,the user can face the digital camera 1 in the direction in which thecenter of gravity has been changed (direction in which the userperceives a sense of force due to occurrence of the gyroscopic moment).In this way, once the center of gravity is changed, a user faces thedigital camera 1, as retracted by the digital camera 1 itself, in thedirection in which an object is present so that the user can notice theobject.

Heat

For example, a heating member such as a Peltier element may be used as away of applying a stimulus through heat. The stimulation control unit 24controls a Peltier element provided in the digital camera 1 in thedirection in which an object is present to generate heat so that thestimulation control unit 24 can have a user notice the direction inwhich the object is present.

[2-2. Configuration of Server]

Next, a configuration of a server 3 according to the present embodimentwill be described with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a block diagramillustrating the configuration of the server 3 according to the presentembodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the server 3 includes acommunication unit 31, a determination unit 33, an object DB 35, and arecognition unit 37.

The communication unit 31 is a communication module for transmittingdata to and receiving data from an external device. For example, thecommunication unit 31 according to the present embodiment receives thecurrent position information and the direction information (informationindicating the image capturing direction) from the digital camera 1. Thecommunication unit 31 also transmits a relative relationship between theposition of the digital camera 1 and the position of an object to thedigital camera 1 as a recognition result.

The determination unit 33 determines whether an object is present in thevicinity of the digital camera 1, and outputs the determination resultto the recognition unit 37. More specifically, the determination unit 33may, for example, compare the current position information of thedigital camera 1 received from the digital camera 1 via thecommunication unit 31 with the position information of the objectsstored in the object DB 35, and may determine an object present within apredetermined distance from the digital camera 1. When a plurality ofobjects are present within a predetermined distance from the digitalcamera 1, the determination unit 33 may also select one object inaccordance with the priority of the objects stored in the object DB 35.

The object DB 35 is a storage unit storing an object including anartificial object and a natural object in association with the positioninformation and the priority. More specifically, an object includes, forexample, a sightseeing resort such as a famous spot and a notable spot.The priority of an object may be changed in accordance with thepreference information of a user, the current position of a user, adate, time, weather, or the like.

When the determination unit 33 determines that an object is present inthe vicinity of the digital camera 1, the recognition unit 37 recognizesa relative relationship between the position of the object and theposition of the digital camera 1. The relative relationship recognizedby the recognition unit 37 is transmitted from the communication unit 31to the digital camera 1 as a recognition result.

A relative relationship of positions may be, for example, a displacementbetween the image capturing direction of the digital camera 1 and thedirection in which an object is present. A displacement between theimage capturing direction of the digital camera 1 and the direction inwhich an object is present will be specifically described below withreference to FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between the currentposition of the digital camera 1 and the position of an object. Therecognition unit 37 recognizes the arrangement of an object S withrespect to the digital camera 1, as illustrated in FIG. 8, based on theposition information of the object S. The recognition unit 37 thenrecognizes a displacement D between an image capturing direction M ofthe digital camera 1 and a direction in which the object S is present.For example, in the example illustrated in FIG. 8, a displacementbetween an object S1 and the image capturing direction M of the digitalcamera 1 is a displacement D1. A displacement between an object S2 andthe image capturing direction M of the digital camera 1 is adisplacement D2. The displacement recognized by the recognition unit 37in this way is transmitted from the communication unit 31 to the digitalcamera 1 as a recognition result.

When recognition unit 37 acquires information regarding an angle of view(for example, an image capturing parameter such as a zoom factor) fromthe digital camera 1 via the communication unit 31, the recognition unit37 can recognize an angle of view C of the digital camera 1, asillustrated in FIG. 6. In such a case, the recognition unit 37 mayrecognize whether an object is included in the angle of view C, and whenthe object is not included in the angle of view C, the recognition unit37 may recognize, as a displacement, a difference between the border ofthe angle of view C and the direction in which the object is present.

The basic configurations of the digital camera 1 and the server 3according to the present embodiment have been described in detail above.Next, an operation process of an object recognition system according tothe present embodiment will be described.

3. OPERATION PROCESS

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process according to thepresent embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 9, first, in step S103, theCPU 10 acquires the current position information of the device (digitalcamera 1) from the GPS positioning unit 14, and also acquiresinformation (direction information) indicating an image capturingdirection from the direction sensor 13.

Subsequently, in step S106, the digital camera 1 transmits the acquiredinformation (position information and direction information) to theserver 3.

Next, in step S109, the determination unit 33 of the server 3determines, based on the received current position information of thedigital camera 1 and the position information of the objects stored inthe object DB 35, whether an object is present in the vicinity of thedigital camera 1.

Subsequently, when it is determined that an object is present, therecognition unit 37 recognizes, in step S112, a displacement between thedirection in which the object is present and the image capturingdirection of the digital camera 1.

Next, in step S115, the communication unit 31 transmits, to the digitalcamera 1, the recognition result (displacement) output from therecognition unit 37.

In step S118, the stimulation control unit 24 of the digital camera 1generates a stimulus in accordance with the recognition result(displacement) received from the server 3 so as to have a user recognizethe position of the object.

The operation process according to the present embodiment has beendescribed above. Even when a relative relationship with an object ischanged, the object recognition system according to the presentembodiment can be applied by repeating steps S103 to S118 and having auser move the digital camera 1 in response to the stimulus.

As described above, when the digital camera 1 is moved by a user so thatthe relative relationship is changed, and an object enters the angle ofview of the digital camera 1, or when the displacement falls within apredetermined range, the stimulation control unit 24 of the digitalcamera 1 may perform control such that stimulation is stopped.

3. CONCLUSION

As described above, if using the object recognition system according tothe present embodiment, it is possible to have a user notice, byproviding a stimulus to a hand of the user, the presence of an objectsuch as a famous spot and a notable spot that has not been noticed bythe user.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

For example, the above-described displacement recognized by therecognition unit 37 is not limited to a horizontal displacement, and mayinclude a displacement in a vertical direction, a diagonal direction, ora three dimensional direction.

In addition to a famous spot, a notable spot, a spiritual place, or thelike, a recommended store may be included as a specific example of anobject. For example, the recommended store may include a store on sale,a store offering X times more points, a refurbished store, a store withinformation indicating that a celebrity has visited the store.

An object may also be a preferred direction on one day based on FengShui. The determination unit 33 determines, based on the currentposition information of a user's electronic apparatus, a preferreddirection for an object that is present in the vicinity of theelectronic apparatus. The recognition unit 37 recognizes a displacementwith the preferred direction. Then, the electronic apparatus can have auser recognize the preferred direction by generating a stimulus.

In the object recognition system according to the above-describedembodiment, the digital camera 1 and the server 3 transmit data to andreceive data from each other, but the object recognition systemaccording to the embodiment of the present disclosure is not limitedthereto. For example, all the processes may be performed in the digitalcamera 1. For example, the digital camera 1 may determine whether anobject is present in the vicinity of the digital camera 1, and mayfurther recognize a relative relationship between the position of theobject and the position of the digital camera 1.

The server 3 according to the present embodiment may determine whether,in the vicinity of the digital camera 1, there is a position from whichan object can be visually recognized, and may recognize a relativerelationship between the position of the digital camera 1 and theposition from which the object can be visually recognized. For example,when, in the vicinity of the digital camera 1, there is a point fromwhich a famous spot can be seen between buildings, the server 3recognizes a relative relationship between such a point and the positionof the digital camera 1, and transmits the recognized relativerelationship to the digital camera 1. Then, based on the recognizedrelative relationship, the digital camera 1 has a user recognize thedirection of the position from which the object can be visuallyrecognized.

In this way, the recognition system according to the embodiment of thepresent disclosure determines whether, in the vicinity of the digitalcamera 1, there is an object point (such as the above-mentioned positionof an object, the above-mentioned position from which an object can bevisually recognized, or a point on the way to a position from which anobject can be visually recognized), and recognizes a relativerelationship between the object point and the position of the digitalcamera 1. Then, if using the recognition system according to theembodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to have a userrecognize the direction of the object point (such as direction in whichthe object is present, and direction in which the object is visuallyrecognized), based on the recognized relative relationship.

Additionally, the present technology may also be configured as below.

(1) A system including:

a housing configured to be grasped by a hand; a determination unitconfigured to determine whether an object point is present in a vicinityof an electronic apparatus;

a recognition unit configured to recognize a relative relationshipbetween the object point and a position of the electronic apparatus whenthe determination unit has determined that the object point is presentin the vicinity; and

a stimulation control unit configured to perform control in a mannerthat a stimulus is provided to a hand in accordance with the recognizedrelative relationship.

(2) The system according to (1),

wherein, when a plurality of object points are present, thedetermination unit identifies one object point in accordance withpriority of each of the plurality of object points.

(3) The system according to (1) or (2),

wherein the stimulation control unit provides a stimulus to a hand inaccordance with the recognized relative relationship in a manner that adirection of the object point is indicated.

(4) The system according to any one of (1) to (3),

wherein the stimulation control unit provides a stimulus throughpressure, a vibration, an electrical stimulus, heat, control over acoefficient of friction of the housing, or control over a center ofgravity of the housing.

(5) The system according to any one of (1) to (4),

wherein the stimulation control unit controls the housing to press thehand that grasps the housing in a direction of the object point.

(6) The system according to any one of (1) to (5), further including:

a lace like member that is attached to the electronic apparatus in aretractable way, and is grasped by a hand,

wherein the stimulation control unit performs control in a manner thelace like member is retracted in a direction of the object point.

(7) The system according to any one of (1) to (6),

wherein the electronic apparatus includes a plurality of vibratingunits, and

wherein the stimulation control unit controls the plurality of vibratingunits disposed in a direction of the object point to vibrate.

(8) The system according to any one of (1) to (7),

wherein the electronic apparatus includes a plurality of electrodes, and

wherein the stimulation control unit performs control in a manner thatelectric currents flow from the plurality of electrodes disposed in adirection of the object point.

(9) The system according to any one of (1) to (8),

wherein the stimulation control unit controls a coefficient of frictionof the housing in a direction of the object point to be smaller than acoefficient of friction in another direction.

(10) The system according to any one of (1) to (9),

wherein the stimulation control unit performs control in a manner that acenter of gravity of the electronic apparatus is inclined in a directionof the object point.

(11) The system according to any one of (1) to (10),

wherein the stimulation control unit controls intensity of the stimulusin accordance with a displacement between the position of the electronicapparatus and the object point that is based on the recognized relativerelationship.

(12) The system according to (11),

wherein, when the relative relationship is changed, and the displacementfalls within a predetermined range, the stimulation control unitperforms control in a manner that stimulation is stopped.

(13) The system according to any one of (1) to (12),

wherein the stimulation control unit controls a stimulus occurrenceinterval in accordance with priority of the object point.

(14) The system according to any one of (1) to (13),

wherein, based on position information of the object point and currentposition information of the electronic apparatus, the determination unitdetermines whether the object point is present in the vicinity of theelectronic apparatus.

(15) The system according to any one of (1) to (13),

wherein the electronic apparatus includes an imaging unit, and

wherein the stimulation control unit performs control in a manner that astimulus is provided to a hand in accordance with a displacement betweena direction of the object point and an image capturing direction of theelectronic apparatus that is based on the recognized relativerelationship.

(16) The system according to (15),

wherein the object point is a position of an object or a position fromwhich the object is visually recognizable, and

wherein, when the relative relationship is changed, and the objectenters an angle of view of the imaging unit, the stimulation controlunit performs control in a manner that stimulation is stopped.

(17) An electronic apparatus including:

a housing configured to be grasped by a hand;

a reception unit configured to determine whether an object point ispresent in a vicinity of the electronic apparatus, and configured toreceive, from a server that recognizes a relative relationship betweenthe object point and a position of the electronic apparatus, therelative relationship recognized by the server when determined that theobject point is present in the vicinity; and

a stimulation control unit configured to perform control in a mannerthat a stimulus is provided to a hand in accordance with the relativerelationship received by the reception unit.

(18) A recording medium having a program recorded thereon, the programcausing a computer to execute the processes of:

determining whether an object point is present in a vicinity of anelectronic apparatus including a housing that is grasped by a hand;

receiving, from a server that recognizes a relative relationship betweenthe object point and a position of the electronic apparatus, therelative relationship recognized by the server when determined that theobject point is present in the vicinity; and

performing control in accordance with the received relative relationshipin a manner that a stimulus is provided to a hand.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: a housing configured to begrasped by a hand; a determination unit configured to determine whetheran object point is present in a vicinity of an electronic apparatus; arecognition unit configured to recognize a relative relationship betweenthe object point and a position of the electronic apparatus when thedetermination unit has determined that the object point is present inthe vicinity; and a stimulation control unit configured to performcontrol in a manner that a stimulus is provided to a hand in accordancewith the recognized relative relationship.
 2. The system according toclaim 1, wherein, when a plurality of object points are present, thedetermination unit identifies one object point in accordance withpriority of each of the plurality of object points.
 3. The systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the stimulation control unit provides astimulus to a hand in accordance with the recognized relativerelationship in a manner that a direction of the object point isindicated.
 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the stimulationcontrol unit provides a stimulus through pressure, a vibration, anelectrical stimulus, heat, control over a coefficient of friction of thehousing, or control over a center of gravity of the housing.
 5. Thesystem according to claim 1, wherein the stimulation control unitcontrols the housing to press the hand that grasps the housing in adirection of the object point.
 6. The system according to claim 1,further comprising: a lace like member that is attached to theelectronic apparatus in a retractable way, and is grasped by a hand,wherein the stimulation control unit performs control in a manner thelace like member is retracted in a direction of the object point.
 7. Thesystem according to claim 1, wherein the electronic apparatus includes aplurality of vibrating units, and wherein the stimulation control unitcontrols the plurality of vibrating units disposed in a direction of theobject point to vibrate.
 8. The system according to claim 1, wherein theelectronic apparatus includes a plurality of electrodes, and wherein thestimulation control unit performs control in a manner that electriccurrents flow from the plurality of electrodes disposed in a directionof the object point.
 9. The system according to claim 1, wherein thestimulation control unit controls a coefficient of friction of thehousing in a direction of the object point to be smaller than acoefficient of friction in another direction.
 10. The system accordingto claim 1, wherein the stimulation control unit performs control in amanner that a center of gravity of the electronic apparatus is inclinedin a direction of the object point.
 11. The system according to claim 1,wherein the stimulation control unit controls intensity of the stimulusin accordance with a displacement between the position of the electronicapparatus and the object point that is based on the recognized relativerelationship.
 12. The system according to claim 11, wherein, when therelative relationship is changed, and the displacement falls within apredetermined range, the stimulation control unit performs control in amanner that stimulation is stopped.
 13. The system according to claim 1,wherein the stimulation control unit controls a stimulus occurrenceinterval in accordance with priority of the object point.
 14. The systemaccording to claim 1, wherein, based on position information of theobject point and current position information of the electronicapparatus, the determination unit determines whether the object point ispresent in the vicinity of the electronic apparatus.
 15. The systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the electronic apparatus includes animaging unit, and wherein the stimulation control unit performs controlin a manner that a stimulus is provided to a hand in accordance with adisplacement between a direction of the object point and an imagecapturing direction of the electronic apparatus that is based on therecognized relative relationship.
 16. The system according to claim 15,wherein the object point is a position of an object or a position fromwhich the object is visually recognizable, and wherein, when therelative relationship is changed, and the object enters an angle of viewof the imaging unit, the stimulation control unit performs control in amanner that stimulation is stopped.
 17. An electronic apparatuscomprising: a housing configured to be grasped by a hand; a receptionunit configured to determine whether an object point is present in avicinity of the electronic apparatus, and configured to receive, from aserver that recognizes a relative relationship between the object pointand a position of the electronic apparatus, the relative relationshiprecognized by the server when determined that the object point ispresent in the vicinity; and a stimulation control unit configured toperform control in a manner that a stimulus is provided to a hand inaccordance with the relative relationship received by the receptionunit.
 18. A recording medium having a program recorded thereon, theprogram causing a computer to execute the processes of: determiningwhether an object point is present in a vicinity of an electronicapparatus including a housing that is grasped by a hand; receiving, froma server that recognizes a relative relationship between the objectpoint and a position of the electronic apparatus, the relativerelationship recognized by the server when determined that the objectpoint is present in the vicinity; and performing control in accordancewith the received relative relationship in a manner that a stimulus isprovided to a hand.